Trenton - The New Jersey Senate and Assembly passed bills to move back the effective date of state’s medical marijuana law by 90 days. The long-suffering residents who will qualify for the program were relieved that legislators rejected a request from Governor Christie for a 6-12 month delay in the law.

There was also a tepid response among patients and elected officials to proposals from the Governor for a fundamental redesign of the medical cannabis program.

The amendments passed yesterday make the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act effective on October 1, 2010. This will give state government officials until January 1, 2011 to finalize rules and regulations.

Ken Wolski RN, the Executive Director of CMMNJ said today, “ A three-month delay is better than a six or 12 month delay. We're also grateful that the legislature did not attempt to amend the content of the law.”

The Department of Health and Senior Services has oversight of the medical cannabis program. DHSS Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh fully endorsed the medical and scientific value of cannabis in a recent New Jersey Network (NJN) appearance.

Peter Rosenfeld, a potential patient on the Board of Directors at the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey said “We hope that during this delay NJ-DHSS is more transparent than it has been in the last six months, allowing our group and other interested groups to give feedback about the program.”

So far, DHSS and other state officials have not met with any local advocacy groups or residents that the law was written to serve. This has left many preparing for a bigger effort to get the medical marijuana law put into practice.

Wolski said CMMNJ meetings have seen their strongest attendance in the last few months. “This is an agonizing delay. Marijuana is medicine in New Jersey and patients deserve, want, and need timely access to it.”

Sunday, June 27, 2010

NJ patients and supporters of immediate implementation of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act are invited to witness the voting on the amendment to delay implementation of this act on Monday, 6-28-10 at the State House in Trenton, NJ.

It is not known exactly when the vote will take place. Supporters are invited to come to CMMNJ headquarters (address below) anytime after 12:00 noon on Monday to await the vote, only five minutes from the State House. Patients and advocates will hold a press conference for the media after the vote.

It's not too late to tell your legislator to vote "no" on the delay. Use this form: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=15171111

Please consider making a donation to CMMNJ and helping with our work, we are the only tax-exempt 501c3 non-profit focused on medical marijuana education in New Jersey. www.cmmnj.org

Potential patients, advocates and the public have been left out of plans to make changes to the hard-won law. The result is a set of proposals that would effectively doom the program to fail, before it goes into effect.

Once again ill patients could be left with only the underground market for access to cannabis for therapeutic use.

AP: Christie considers changes to law.

By Geoff Mulvihill

Associated Press

Advocates of medical use of marijuana in New Jersey are buzzing over word that Gov. Christie is floating major changes to the way pot could be legally grown and distributed, before a system already signed into law can take effect.

Rutgers University's New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the New Jersey Hospital Association said Friday that the administration had contacted them in recent weeks about taking a role in producing and distributing medical marijuana.

Both groups said the talks were preliminary and legal issues would need to be worked out first, but both said they're interested.

The idea of having the university and hospitals as the sole growers and dispensers was first reported Friday by the Newark Star-Ledger. Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, would not speak about the plans Friday other than to say many options were being considered.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

New Jersey officials are scrambling to extend their deadline for implementing the medical marijuana law. The Governor's Counsel and the Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner have been meeting with legislators recently to discuss the length of the delay, which could put off the first legal access by registered patients into 2011.

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1 PM, New Jersey medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference in front of City Hall in Jersey City.

Local cannabis policy experts are working closely with Jersey City officials to create municipal guidelines for the placement of an Alternative Treatment Center. The second largest city in New Jersey is seeking to welcome local, non-profit medical marijuana providers once they can be licensed for operation.

"Guidelines in Jersey City and other towns will assure a local infrastructure is ready for regulated cannabis facilities to serve patients as quickly as possible," said CMMNJ/NORMLNJ advocate Chris Goldstein

Last month a request was made by Governor Christie for a six to twelve month extension on the issuance of the medical marijuana program regulations. The extension would require additional legislation.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law January, 11 2010. As passed, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) was to issue draft regulations in July. Patients are anticipating access to a running program by the fall.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ do not see any need for a delay.

Ken Wolski, a Registered Nurse and Executive Director of CMMNJ said, “If the DHSS cannot write these regulations in 6 months, there is no guarantee they will be able to write them in 18 months. Patients are suffering as they continue to wait for the program.”

Anne M. Davis, Executive Director of NORML-NJ said, “This is a law and there are no exceptions. There are patients with chronic or even terminal illnesses that cannot get an extension on life.”

The 6/17/10 press conference will feature brief statements along with a Q&A.

Speakers will include potential medical marijuana patients, medical professionals and supporters of the new law who will address the proposed delay in implementing the state's therapeutic cannabis program.

The following email was received by CMMNJ Board member Peter Rosenfeld from the New Jersey department of Health and Senior Services:

From: Medical.Marijuana@doh.state.nj.us

At this time, the Department is not reviewing proposals or receiving documents, nor is the Department meeting with potential vendors, advocacy groups, lobbyists or other interested parties to present business plans, strategies or offers of assistance. Given the large numbers and diverse recommendations, we believe this is the best way to assure an objective, science based strategy.

As you are aware, medical marijuana is not available in the state of New Jersey. The Department must first establish a process to register qualified patients, caregivers and alternate treatment centers. This includes the continuation of coordinated implementation strategies amongst all state agencies to ensure all issues are addressed adequately. Full implementation of the New Jersey Compassionate Use of Marijuana Act awaits completion of this mandated process, which will assure the intent of the Act is accessible to those patients with designated medical conditions, while ensuring that it is implemented in a safe and effective manner.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

On Friday 6/4/2010, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey and NORML New Jersey had a press conference regarding our governor's desire to change the law and get an extension on implementing the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

Our team included Anne Davis from NORMLNJ, Ken Wolski RN the Exec director of CMMNJ, Jim Miller of CMMNJ, Attorney William Buckman of NORMLNJ, CMMNJ Board member Peter Rosenfeld, Chris Goldstein from CMMNJ/ NORMLNJ/PhillyNORML along with dozens of patients and supporters. It was one of the best press conferences/rallies I have ever attended.

Here are some links to the coverage we received from the conference on the NJ Statehouse steps:

Friday, June 4, 2010

Jersey's New Medical Marijuana Law Still Hazy

So far it's pass, pass, puff.

New Jersey's "Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" was signed into law back in January, but cannot take effect until the Department of Health and Senior Services actually draws up the rules and regulations that will run the program.

And Governor Chris Christie's recent request to the Legislature for a six month to one year delay is not going over well with patients and advocates who helped shape the bill.

"We expect the law to be followed we expect the time line to be followed," said advocate Chris Goldstein, of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana -- New Jersey.

The original time line would have the proposed rules drawn up by August 1st, and patients lighting up by this Fall.

But that's not enough time for the Christie Administration.

"We are now going to become a distributor of a controlled substance," said Christie's Press Secretary Mike Drewniak in explaining why the Governor, who supports the law, wants more time.

TRENTON —Chronically ill patients who qualify under New Jersey’s new medical marijuana law should be allowed to buy the drug on their own while Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers haggle over when the state run-program should begin, the law’s sponsor said today.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), said Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland and other states gave patients this freedom when they legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

“Certainly we can create this window where we allow them to obtain it on their own,” Gusciora said. “It could helps alleviate a lot of suffering.”

Gusciora suggested the idea during a Statehouse demonstration today over Christie’s request to miss the anticipated July deadline to announce rules outlining how the program will work.

On Friday June 4, 2010 at 1PM local medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference at the State House in Trenton. Potential medical marijuana patients, doctors, nurses and supporters of the new law will address recent news of a proposed delay for implementing the program.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was voted and signed in law in January 2010. As passed, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) was to issue draft regulations in July and patients were anticipating access to a running program by the fall.

Last week a request was made for an additional 6 months to 1 year before the draft medical marijuana program regulations are issued. The extension would require legislation.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ do not see any need for a delay.

Ken Wolski a registered nurse and Executive Director of CMMNJ said, “If the DHSS cannot write these regulations in 6 months, there is no guarantee they will be able to write them in 18 months. Patients are suffering as they continue to wait for the program.”

Anne M. Davis, Executive Director of NORML-NJ said, “This is a law and there are no exceptions. There are patients with chronic or even terminal illnesses that cannot get an extension on life.”

The 6/4/10 press conference will feature brief statements along with a Q&A. A full list of participants will be released on Thursday June 3, 2010.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ are addressing two main points:- Timely implementation of the medical marijuana law- A request that those in the Christie Administration meet with New Jersey’s local medical cannabis experts and advocates to discuss the law

Ken and Jim at Redbank Fundraiser

About The Coalition

Coalition members hold diverse opinions, but we all agree:

Arresting patients is wrong, and it must stop now.

Modern clinical research, centuries of experience and the impassioned personal accounts of thousands of real patients concur: Marijuana can alleviate symptoms of certain serious medical conditions, and it can do so when other drugs fail to help.

Doctors should be free to recommend this medicine to promote health, and sick or injured New Jerseyans should be free to use it responsibly.

The safety margin for therapeutic marijuana is as wide as it can be ─there is no known lethal dose.

New Jersey healthcare professionals dispense potentially lethal drugs every day. We trust them to do so very carefully, and solely to benefit their patients. Common sense and compassion demand that doctors should control non-lethal marijuana medicine for those who truly need it. To make this important change a reality, your voice is needed.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was introduced in the State Senate in January 2005 by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden). A companion bill is pending in the Assembly, sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) and Assemblyman Michael Carroll (R-Morris Township).